The White Wolf

Chapter Nine

~Payton~

When I woke up the first thing, I notice is the empty bed. I spin my legs around and sit on the edge of the bed. I subconsciously sit there rubbing my wrist. It still hurt from when the mark was burned onto me, but at least it wasn’t agonising pain anymore. Once I got up, I did my normal daily routines of getting ready. I went to the wardrobe and picked high waisted jeans and a cute t-shirt. I find my trainers and get ready to go downstairs. I can hear the chatter coming from the dining room. I walk in and greet everyone. The table is full, which is nice to see. I give Jake a quick kiss and go to visit Claire, who seemed to have help today.

“Hey Claire, how are you?”

“It’s all good in here, I will bringing out the food in a minute and he hired help. Thank you.”

“Anytime” I smile back at her. By hired her help, he had just added to Jackie’s days by the look of it.

I went back into the dining room and took my seat next to Jake. Jamie looked like he would rather be anywhere but here, Jake to be fair looked vaguely similar. The Warriors were just waiting for food to make a quick exit. “So, what’s going on?” I smile at Jake.

“Oh, we are just planning Jamie and Zoey’s wedding, we already know what you’re doing for yours,” Steph interjects. She looks truly happy now that her family are all in one place and looking much better after yesterdays attack.

“Oh?” I smile at her.

“Yes, oh it’s so exciting to have two of my family members getting married. The doctor cleared me this morning, I can start training with you as well.” She smiles. She’s so excited that she’s practically bouncing in her seat.

“We need a pack meeting so we can organise people’s training. Jake, you need to train with Jamie, I can’t train you.” I turn to Jake. I know he wants to train with me as we would normally fight together but I can’t train him.

“What? Why not?” he’s frowning at me, and I half-smile at him.

“Because it’s not fair when we can trick each other, we will learn to fight together once Jamie has accessed your fighting abilities but until then we can’t spar against each other.”  

“Or because there will be no fighting going on, but more babies than we can count” Jamie interjects, the warriors all fall about laughing while Wyatt just glares at Jake. I instantly go bright red and Jamie wiggles his eyebrows at me.

Completely ignoring the look from his father, Jake adds “yeah that’s true, she doesn’t fight fair and I don’t have the will power of a saint” he smiles at me and gives me a quick kiss.

The food starts to come out just then and everyone instantly goes to demolishing all Claire’s hard work.

We discussed the potential training days we could have; the forms had been handed out and they had everyone’s back in. Looks like we would be holding three training sessions throughout the day to work around people’s shifts. Those working within the house can attend any of the sessions they want. The pups will be trained after school with them doing a run each morning with Steph to ensure their stamina is good. I did say that the adults should also be doing morning or evening runs to help their stamina too. Steph and the rest of the family discussed Jamie and Zoey’s wedding, and Jamie asked me to be his best man. Which is awesome. Marc and Josh ask about the welcoming ceremony and Clarissa run through it all with us. Before both the weddings, we need to be accepted into the pack so that will happen first by Jake.

Jake had mind linked the pack to arrange for a pack meeting for an hour. So, I used this time to take a run with the warriors. We all kept in human form and ran the perimeter. Once we got back to the clearing and everything was all good, we decide to spar. Me and Jamie against the warriors. They had been training and were now good fighters, but they hadn’t been training since they were three. Plus, I and Jamie had the bonus of being trained together and therefore we were paired for fighting together. The Goddess had blessed both me and Jamie to be excellent fighters, so we wiped the floor with them. To be good teachers we gave them pointers on how to improve for next time.  I pointed out that any black wolf that comes here to fight will have the same training we’ve had and therefore will be good, but not better, I also pointed out that we are paired with our fighting partners young and therefore separating us is the key to success. The pack had started to show up for the meeting.  Jake was stood in front of the garden, and everyone had stood around him in a semi-circle. The warriors stood off to the side with Jamie, I went and stood next to Jake on his left, Nick stood on his right and the rest of the family were stood behind us.  Once everyone was here, Jake started talking;

“Thank you for all coming. I would like to spend the time to welcome some new people into the pack and formally introduce you to my mate and your future Luna, Payton.” He holds his hand out and I take it. “Payton was fleeing her old pack; this was due to them hiding her. She is a white wolf, and they did not want to share her with the wolf community. So, she fled. We will be marrying tomorrow, which everyone is invited” I smile at the pack. They all bow their heads to me in submission. “Next is Jamie, he is from the same pack. They tortured him until he broke but he found his way to us anyway and Payton healed him. He is the mate to my sister Zoey. They will be married later today, but you guys should already know that”. he smiles at everyone and there seems to be a consensus that they did all know. “Lastly, Marc and Josh, who were forced to leave their pack due to them being a couple” there were a few gasps, hopefully at them being forced to leave rather than the couple. “I have allowed them to stay so that they can find their happiness, I hope everyone will make them feel welcome”. He smiles.

“There are going to be some tough and dark times ahead, but I promise you, I will lead us to victory. As you are aware, everyone in the pack will be trained to fight, we will all have our duties and therefore will not all be called to fight in one go, but it ensures all of your safety. Pups will train with my sister Steph and your Luna Payton. Payton will be training the adults as well, along with the help of our packs warriors. We are in this together. We are a pack, but we are more than that. We are a family. And we will succeed.” Everyone starts cheering.

Everyone could attend one at least one session a good day, some even said that they would attend the pups training session and work with them. Which is good as I can then train the children to attack and defend against adults who have a much bigger advantage. Everyone came and introduced themselves and thanked me for completing their Alpha.  I felt at home here. The pack was lovely, they had such a family binding spirit that I wish I had grown up here. I watched as people approached Jake and asked about Marc and Josh. A young couple said about the cabin next to them being empty and how it needed work but how they would help. Before long it was dinner time. Pack members went home for theirs and once everyone had left, we went into the house for ours. After dinner, we were all given tasks to do to help set up for the ceremony. My job was to ensure that Jamie is ready, which was nice and easy. I went into my room and started to get ready, Clarissa had gone and brought a whole load of dresses for us all to wear. Mine was a fitted body with a lace overlay. It had lacy long sleeves and came down to my knees. I brushed and straightened my hair; I then plaited the front back and pinned it. I put on light makeup that I had brought with Steph. Just I was leaving Steph came rushing out and asked if I could help with Zoey. Samantha, Jakes youngest sister, was doing Zoey’s makeup, Clarissa had just finished Zoey’s hair. It was in a beautiful updo, with curly bits falling from it. I take Zoey’s hand and start painting her nails, once I had finished, I put them under a UV lamp, to help set them. Once she was ready me and Steph help her into the dress. It was Clarissa’s, Steph also got married in the dress, and so will Samantha when she finds her mate. Clarissa was sat on the bed crying and dabbing her face. The dress was beautiful. It was a traditional wedding gown seen in the movies, with lots of layers creating the poufy look. Samantha was helping her into the shoes when Jamie mind-linked me. Freaking out about Zoey.

“Sorry girls but I need to go, Jamie needs me.” I smile at them all. I turn and take Zoey’s hands. “Your Beautiful and Jamie is one lucky man.” I squeeze her hand and leave the room. I find Jamie’s door and knock. Jake answers.

“What are you doing here?” I eye him. He’s dressed in a traditional wedding suit.

“Just giving Jamie some helpful brotherly advice is all” he answers. I roll my eyes at him, I very much doubt it was helpful.

“So why am I needed then? Or is it to get rid of you?” he laughs and opens the door. Jamie seems to be pacing up and down the room. When he notices I am here: “How is she?” he questions me.

“Fine why?” I answer I look at Jake who just shrugs.

“I can feel her panic, Payton,” I state.

“Oh,” I look at him “OH, well Jamie that’s perfectly normal for a bride to feel nervous, she doesn’t know you, not really.” I smile at him “She’s lovely and you’ve been waiting for her for so long, don’t allow her nerves to worry you”. I take his hand and force him to stand still.

“I’ve only ever been connected to you Payton, how am I meant to deal with this?”

“well remember when we first linked, think of it like that. Until you know her just block her out a little unless she minds link you” I smile.

“Have you two started to link then?”

It’s Jake who answers. “Yeah, you start to link as Alphas within hours of meeting your mate. I’ve been able to feel Payton since I met her basically” Jake smiles at me.

“come on let’s get you downstairs and ready,” I say.

Jake does the welcoming ceremony for us, and then once we can hear all the packs voices, we step into positions for the wedding. Jamie is dressed in a grey suit with a blue pocket that matches my dress. The wedding has been kept simple the seats have seat covers over them with blue that matches mine and then the bridesmaid dresses. The marquee is up to provide places to eat and dance. The ground was hard allowing us all to wear heals, which Steph had to teach me to walk in as I’ve never worn them.

Jake has been ordained to conduct weddings, which he only does werewolf ones, and as Alpha, he also can perform the mating ceremony. They do that different here, it’s just a few lines weaved into the marriage so acknowledge their wolf half. I hold Jamie’s wedding band in my hand. I feel so happy that my best friend has found the love of his life. Jake is standing at the front. The music starts playing and Zoey walks down the aisle, handing her bouquet to Steph.  You can see Jamie’s eyes getting all watery.

See Jamie, everything works out fine, I mind link him. I’m so lucky, he replies to me and I smile.

Jamie and Zoey did their vows, which was beautiful and before long they were married. Claire had prepared loads of buffet food beforehand which was set up in the marquee. The whole pack enjoy the party, and everyone comes over to congratulate the happy couple. About 10 pm Zoey and Jamie disappear. No-one mentions it though. Clarissa tells us around mid-night that we need to go to bed in separate rooms. Jamie rolls his eyes, but she is insistent and says she will sleep in the hall if she needs too. Jamie smiles and says he would never want to do that to his mother. We both go up to the bed, he gives me a quick hug and a very long lingering kiss. I close my bedroom door, which thankfully they had the foresight to soundproof all the rooms so that I don’t have to listen to them getting it on. I take my makeup off, moisturise my face, brush and put my hair in a bun, and climb into my jammies, then I get into bed. The apprehension of my wedding tomorrow ensures I don’t sleep that well.